Whish-Wilson seeking
unity on forestry issues

By
SEAN FORD

CLAIMS that environment campaigner Alec Marr and others trashed the Triabunna woodchip mill were very unhelpful for the Green movement.

CLAIMS that environment campaigner Alec Marr and others trashed the Triabunna woodchip mill were very unhelpful for the Green movement.

POSITIVE FOCUS: ``If it was me, I would be focusing on what the purchase of Triabunna has to offer Triabunna,'' says Senator Peter Whish-Wilson.

That is according to Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson.

Senator Whish-Wilson yesterday said he had not yet read a lengthy report in The Monthly that claimed Mr Marr, the former Wilderness Society head, led the systematic destruction of the mill last year after it was bought by wealthy environmentalists Graeme Wood and Jan Cameron in 2011.

That was claimed to be so it could not again be used for forestry purposes, at least not without major extra cost.

Anything that would cause more division in the state was very unhelpful, Senator Whish-Wilson said in Burnie.

``When people's livelihoods are at stake, it is sensible for the Green movement to be sensitive about broader issues and unintended consequences.

``If it was me, I would be focusing on what the purchase of Triabunna has to offer Triabunna.''

He said the claims would play into the hands of the Liberals.

``I wouldn't give them any ammunition,'' he said.

``We've got to focus on what we're going to do to bring people together and grow the economy.''

The facility closed due to a downturn in the woodchip market before it became one of many Gunns Ltd assets sold off as the forestry company tumbled towards administration.

Senator Whish-Wilson said he was optimistic the facility could be used for tourism purposes, as the owners had said was the intention.

``I do believe that the (woodchip) facility wasn't sustainable because of global markets.''

Resources Minister Paul Harriss said the report showed the depths to which ``these extremists will sink to achieve their goal of shutting down an industry''.